herdman



' @No Model.)

REGULATOR FOR ELECTRIC MOTORS1 No. 519,120. Patented May 1, 18911.`

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-fSheet 2.

F. E. HBRDMAN. REGULATOR FOR RLROTRIO MOTORS.

Patented May 1, 1894.

v4 SheetsfShet 3.

(NoModel.)

' F. E. HERDMAN.

REGULATOR EOR ELECTRIC MOTORS.

No. 519,120. Patented May 1,1894.

(No Model.) f 4 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

E.' E. HERDMAN. REGULATOR POB. ELECTRIC MOTORS. No. 519,120. Patented May 1, 1894. 2515.20

.u E Il Q F UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK E. HERDMAN, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

REGULATOR FOR ELECTRIC MOTORS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 519,120, dated May 1, 1894. Application filed April 16, 1892. Renewed January 11, 1894.. Serial No. 496,546. (No model.)

T0 all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK E. HERDMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Indianapolis, county of Marion, and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Rheostats, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention has for its object to provide a certain improved construction of rheostat whereby the current passing to the motor is controlled in an effective and simple way.

I will first describe my improvement in a preferred form of embodiment, and in so doing will describe the saine in use with a particular character of structure. But I do not intend to limit myself to its use with any particular structure.

In the drawings-Figure lis a front elevation. Fig. 2 is a detached plan view of part of improved rheostat. Fig. Sis a detached section on the line m-@c Fig. l. Fig. 4 is a detached section on line fy-y, Fig. l. Fig. 5 is a detached section on line z-z, Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a diagram of the metallic contact plates. Fig. 7 is a rear View of drum. Fig. 8 is a front view of drum. Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the device as applied to elevator mechanism. Fig. 10 is a section on line yay, Fig. l, showing vthe bell-crank L and the lever Z in operative relation -to the parts, G, L, and the cylinder.

M is the motor on the shaft m. On this shaft is the brake-wheel m', provided with strap brake m2. Connected to this shaft m is a worm which operates a worm wheel on the drum shaft n, upon which shaft is also the operating drum N2.

A is the rheostat box. In this box is the wooden drum A loose on a shaft ct having the bearings a. a2. This drum has on its face two plates B and C shown in detail Fig. 6. These plates are of peculiar shape and wound around the drum in a peculiar manner. the plate B (Fig. 6) has a solid portion b at one end, while at its other end it is formed into two portions b b2 separated by a space; the plate C in a similar manner having at one end the solid portion c and at the other end the two portions c c2 separated by a space. These plates are wound around the drum in a Thus,

peculiar manner so that they cross one anothervas shown (Fig. 6). At their point of passage the two plates are separated by an insulating strip. As may also be seen the lengths of strips c and b2 are equal, and greater than the length of strips b and c2 (which are equal to each other in length), so that when they are wound around the drum, the parts b and c2 are a farther distance from juncture with plates B and C than strips c and b2, the purpose of which will hereinafter be fully explained. Beneath the drum A and in contact with the same are the two brushes 3 and 4,- on'e in contact with plate B and the other in contact with plate C. These brushes are connected directly with the main circuit, as shown in Fig. 1, the field of motor being also in direct electrical connection with the source of current supply (Fig. l). In contact with the top of cylinder A are the brushes 5 5 and 6 6. The brushes 6 6 are in circuit with the double solenoid D. Brush 5 is in electrical connection with contact 30.

E is an arm connected at one end to solenoid core, and at the other end to dash pot F. G is an arm connected to this arm .and carryinga brush g.

I-I are the resistances, and the arm G from the point g is' in electrical connection with the armature and has brush g so that through the resistances and arm G, the brush 5 is in.

electrical connection with the armature of the motor Brush 5 is in electrical connection with the other pole of the armature from that to which the brush 5 is connected.

I isthe operating bar connected to the lever I', which is fastened on the shaft of the drum A. By turning the operating bar forward and to the right, the brushes are brought in contact with the plates on the drum. The brushes 6 6', being in contact respectively with plates B and C, close the circuit through the solenoid D, brush 5 being in contact with plate c and brush 5 being in contact with plate b2. By turning the operating bar in the opposite direction, or to the left, the brushes 6 6 are brought in contact with the same plates as before, but brush 5 is brought in contact with plate B and brush 5 in contact with plate C, thereby reversing the current through the armature to what it was before.

As before described, the positions of plates ICO B and C with which brushes 6 6 come in coni tact, are placed farther apart than the positions of the platesB and C with which brushes 5 5 come in contact, so that in cutting oft the current in stopping the motor, the circuit is broken through the solenoid D before it is broken through the armature. That is, when the drum A is moved sufficiently toward the center to break the circuit through thc solenoid, it still maintains it through the armature.

To the drum A is attached the cain plate K, having on its lower end the projection Zt. Beneath this projection is the arm L provided with a stop Z, the arm L being provided at Z. Beneath the arm L is the spring Z'*2 which holds said arm L against the cam K. lVhen the operating bar is thrown to the right or to the left, the projection 7i: on the cam is carried beyond the projection on the arm L the normal position at rest or center being for stop Z to rest on top of projection 7c. Now if the switch be thrown to the center to stop the elevator the projection 7c strikes thestop Z on the arm L, which prevents the turning of the drum, as the drum is loose on the shaft. A collar O is connected to said drum with a slot o through which a pin o', connected to the shaft, projects through the slot o on the collar O, by which means motion is given to the drum. XVhen the stop Z is struck by the projection 7s the drum A is held from movement, and the shaft continuing to move renders the torsion spring P, which is connected to the collar O and shaft, active. The projection 7c and stop Z are so arranged that the stop Z is struck by the projection 7c when the circuit is broken through the solenoid the brushes 5 5 maintaining the circuit through the armature. As soon as the current through the solenoid is broken, the arm G is drawn over the resistance contacts and by means of weighted lever 25, gradually cuts off the current through the armature. vWhen this arm G has passed its full distance, it strikes a bellcrank L connected to arm L, which lowers the projection Z and releases the drum, the spring P bringing the drum to the center and thus breaking the contact between the brushes 5 5 and its contacts on the drum. The cam plate has also the notches q g q2 and an arm Q held by spring B and provided with a stop g3, which stop is adapted to rest in the notches on the cam-plate. lf the drum be at center, then the stop Q3 is in the position shown in Fig. It. lf the drum be moved to right or left, the stop rests in notches q or q2, bringing the spring l into action; and when the projection Z is released as above described, the stop q, by the spring action, assists 1n returning the drum to the center. By this arrangement the current is not broken by a sudden shock through the armature. The circuit through the fields, as shown in this drawing, is taken directly from the main circuit, it remaining in constant circuit through the fields while the main circuit is closed.

lt desired to have the circuit through the fields broken, whenever the motor is at rest an additional pair ot' brushes can be placed in contact with the drum A', so that the circuit always passes through the fields in the saine direction and in the saine manner as described from the solenoid. The brushes 5 5, 6 6 are of peculiar construction to give good contacts and also to allow of being readily adj usted and taken out and cleaned whenever desired. Each brush consists of a plate T with a slot t directly above the central line of the drum A and carrying the metal block t2. The lower end otI this block comes in contact with the drum A and has a spring wire t3 on top to hold it in place. This block can be taken out at any time by lifting to one side the spring wire, when any attention necessary can be given to it with great ease, after which it can be readily slipped into its slot and the spring set in place, while it adj usts itself to the drum A with a constant pressure. The brush on the arm G is arranged in a somewhat similar manner, the arm G having a slot in its end carrying the metal block or brush g and which comes in contact with the resistance contacts. On top of this metal block is plate G2011 the end of arm G3, this arm having springs G1r attached. These springs Gl hold the plate Gl with a constant and even pressure against the metal block on the brush g and allow it to readily adjustitselt' on the contact of the resistances. By simply lifting the arm G3, this block g can be readily removed and any attention necessary given to it, after which it can with great ease, be slipped back in place and the brushes adjusted ready for work.

Havingy now fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to protect by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a rheostat, a drum, adapted to be rotated, plates wound around said drum, one end of each plate being bifurcated, a source of current supply, brushes adapted to convey said current to the solid portions of said plates, and brushes adapted to convey current from the bifurcated ends ol." said plates to the desired points.

2. ln a rheostat, a drum, adapted to be rotated, plates wound around said drum, one end of each plate being bit'nrcated, the bifurcated ends ot each plate being of dilferent lengths, a source of current supply, brushes adapted to convey said current to the solid portions of said plates, and brushes adapted to convey current from the bilnrcated ends of said plates to the desired points.

3. In a rheostat, a drum, adapted to be rotated, plates wound around said drum, one end of each plate being bifurcated, said plates crossing each other upon said drum,a source of current supply, brushes adapted to convey said current to the solid portions of said IlO plates, and brushes adapted to convey current from the bifurcated ends of said plate to the desired points.

4. In a rheostat, a drum adapted to be rotated, plates wound around said drum, one end of each plate being bifurcated, the bifurcated ends of each plate being of different lengths, said plates crossing each other upon said drum, a source of current supply, brushes adapted to convey said current to the solid portion of said plates, and brushes adapted to convey current from the biturcated ends of said plates to the desired points.

5. In a rheostat, a drum, adapted to be 10- tated, plates wound around said drum, one end of each plate being bifurcated said plates crossing each other upon said drum and insulated at the point of crossing, a source of current supply, brushes adapted to convey said current to the solid portions of said plates, and brushes adapted to convey current from the bifurcated ends of said plates to the desired points.

6. In a rheostat, a drum, adapted to be rotated, plates wound around said drum, one end of each plate being bifurcated, the bifurcated ends of each plate being of different lengths, said plates crossing each other upon said drum and insulated at the point of crossing, a source of current supply, brushes adapted to convey said current to. the solid portions of said plates, and brushes adapted to convey current from the bifurcated ends ot' said plates to the desired points.

7. In combination, a drum adapted to be rotated, plates Wound around said drum, one end of each plate being bifurcated, said plates crossing each other upon said drum a source of current supply, brushes in contact with said plates, and connected with the source of current supply, brushes two of which are adapted always to be in contact each with one of the plates, brushes intermediate, one adapted to make contact with different plates according to the direction in which the drum is turned, a solenoid, the first two brushes being in electrical connection with said solenoid, an arm adapted to be operated by said solenoid, electrical connection between the arm and armature of a motor, resistances, a brush carried by said arm adapted to pass over said resistances, electrical connection between one of the intermediate brushes and the resistances, and electrical connection between the other intermediate brush and the armature of the motor.

8. In combination, a drum adapted to be rotated, plates wound around said drum, one end of each plate being bifurcated, the bifurcated ends of each plate being of different lengths, said plates crossing each other upon said drum, a source of current supply, brushes in contact with said plates and connected.

with the source of current supply, brushes two of which are adapted always to be in contact each with one of the plates and brushes intermediate, one adapted to make contact with dierent plates according to the direction in which the drum is turned, a solenoid, the iirst two brushes being in electrical connection with said solenoid, an. arm adapted to be operated by said solenoid, electrical connection between the arm and armature of the motor, resistances, a brush carried by said arm adapted to pass over said resistances, electrical connection between one of the intermediate brushes and the resistances, and electrical connection between the other intermediate brush and the armature of the motor.

9. In combination, a drum adapted to be rotated, plates wound around said drum, one end of each plate being bifurcated, the bifurcated ends of each plate being of different lengths, said plates crossing each other upon said drum, a source ot' current supply, brushes in contact with said plates and connected with the source of current supply, brushes two of which" are adapted always to be in contact each with one of the plates and brushes intermediate, one adapted to make contact with different plates according to the direction in which the drum is turned, a solenoid, the irst two brushes being in electrical connection with said solenoid, an arm adapted to be operated by said solenoid, electrical connection between the arm and armature of the motor, resistances, a brush carried by said arm adapted to pass over said resistances, electrical connection between one of the intermediate brushes and the resistancesand electrical connection between the. other intermediate brush and the armature of the motor, a cam plate, a projection on saidplate, a springactuated arm provided with a stop held against said cam plate, the spring-actuated arm being pivoted, and a bell cranklever attached to said arm in line with the arm moved by the solenoid.

10. In combination, a drum adapted to be rotated, plates wound around said drum one end of each plate being bifurcated, the bifur- ^cated ends of each plate being of dierent lengths, said plates crossing each other upon said drum, a source of current supply, brushes in contact with said plates and connected with the source of current supply, brushes two of which are adapted always to be in contact each with one of the plates and brushes intermediate, one adapted to make contact with different plates according to the direction in which the drum is turned, a solenoid, the first two brushes being in electrical connection with said solenoid, an arm adapted to be operated by said solenoid, electrical connection between the arm and armature of the motor, resistances, a brush carried by said arm adapted to pass over said resistances, electrical connection between one of the intermediate brushes and the resstances and electrical connection between the other intermediate brush and the armature of the motor, a shaft upon said drum loosely connected to a collar on said shaft, a slot in said collar IOO IIO

through which said pin projects, and a spring surrounding the end of said collar and connected to said shaft.

1l. In combination, a drum adapted to be rotated, plates wound around said drum, one end of each plate being bifurcated, the bifurcated ends of each plate being of dierent lengths, said plates crossing each other upon said drum, a source of current supply, brushes in contact with said plates and connected with the source of current supply, brushes, two of which are adapted always to be in contact each with one of the plates and brushes intermediate, one adapted to make contact with diiierent plates according to the direction in which the drum is turned, a solenoid, the iirst two brushes being in electrical connection with said solenoid, an arm adapted to be operated by said solenoid, electrical connection between the arm and armature of the motor, resistances, a brush carried by said arm adapted to pass over said resistances, electrical connection between one of the intermediate brushes and the resistances, and electrical connection between the other intermediate brush andthearmature of the motor, a shaft upon which said drum is loosely connected to a collar on said shaft, a slot in said collar through which said pin projects, a spring surrounding the end of said collar and connected to said shaft, a cam plate, a projection on said plate, a spring-actuated arm provided with a stop held against said cam plate, the spring actuated arm being pivoted, and a bell crank lever attached to said arm in line with the arm moved by the solenoid.

l2. In combination, a drum adapted to be rotated, plates wound around said drum, one end of each plate being biturcated, the bifurcated ends of each plate being of diiterent lengths, said plates crossing each other upon said drum, asource of current supply, brushes in contact with said plates and connected with the source of current supply, brushes, two of which are adapted always to be in conl tact each with one of the plates and brushes intermediate, one adapted to make contact with diderent plates according to the direc tion in which the drum is turned, a solenoid, the iirst two brushes being in electrical connection with said solenoid, an arm adapted to be operated by said solenoid, electrical connection between the arm and armature of the motor, resistances, a brush carried by said arm adapted to pass over said resistances, electrical connection between one of the intermediate brushes and the resistances, and electrical connection between the other intermediate brush and the armature of the motor, a shaft upon which said drum is loosely connected to a collar on said shaft, a slot in said collar through which said piu projects, a spring surrounding the end of said collar and connected to said shaft, a cam plate, a projection on said plate, a spring actuated arm provided with a stop held against said cam plate, the spring actuated arm being pivoted, a bell crank lever attached to said arm in line with the arm moved by the solenoid, notches on said cam plate and spring-actuated arm, and a stop connected to said arm and adapted to rest in the notches in the cam plate.

13. In a rheostat, a drum adapted to be rotated, four contacts wound upon said drum in pairs of equal length, each pair differing in length from the other pair, electrical connection between the poles of current supply and each pair of plates, means to convey current from each pair of plates toa separate circuit whereby when the drum is rotated the current is broken in one circuit before the other.

14. In a rheostat, a drum adapted to be rotated, four contacts wound upon said drum in pairs of equal length, each pair differing in length from the other pair, electrical connection between the poles of current supply and each pair ot' plates, means to convey current from one pair of plates to a translating device, resistances in said circuit, an arm adapted to travel over said resistances to vary the resistance in said circuit, a solenoid for operating said arm, said solenoid being in electrical connection with devices to receive the current from the other pair of plates, said pair of plates being the one of shorter length, whereby in the rotation of said drum the circuit to the solenoid is broken before the circuit to the translating device.

l5. In a rheostat, a drum adapted to be rotated, four contacts wound upon said drum in pairs ot' equal length, each pair differing in length from the other pair, electrical con nections between the poles of current supply and each pair of plates, means to convey current from one pair of plates to a translating device, resistances in said circuit, an arm adapted to travel over said resistances to vary the resistance in said circuit, a solenoid for operating said arm, said solenoid being in electrical connection with devices to receive the current from the other pair of plates, said pair of plates being the one of shorter length, a device for returning said arm when the solenoid ceases to act, and intermediate connection substantially as described between said arm and the drum whereby when the drum is rotated the circuit to the solenoid is first broken and said drum prevented from further rotating until the arm is returned over the resistances.

In testimony of which inventionl havehereunto set my hand.

FRANK E. I-IERDMAN.

Witnesses G. E. SGHMITULM, W. L. ROBINSON. 

